1 Corinthians 1:28

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT. "Yea" is not in the Greek. A C Delta G f g omit "and." Thus, the clause, "things which are not" (are regarded as nought), is in apposition with "foolish ... weak ... base (i:e., low-born) and despised things." God has chosen all four (as the only realities), though regarded as things that are not (nonentities) to bring to nought things that are. 'Aleph (') B, Vulgate, read 'and.'...

28._Things that are not _He makes use of similar terms in Romans 4:17, but in a different sense. For in that passage, when describing the universal call of the pious, he says, that we are nothing previously to our being called, which must be understood as referring to reality in the sight of God, however we may appear to be something in the eyes of men. Here, the _nothingness _( οὐδενεια) of which he speaks must be viewed as referring to the opinion of men, as is manifest from the corresponding clause, in which he says that this is done in order _that the things that are may be brought to naught _For there is nothing except in appearance, because in reality we are all nothing. _Things that are_, therefore, you must explain to mean _things that appear, _so that this passage corresponds with such statements as these: — He raise

26-31 God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth, and power, and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. He best judges what men and what measures serve the purposes of his glory. Though not many noble are usually called by Divine grace, there have been some such in every age, who have not been ashamed of the gospel of Christ; and persons of every rank stand in need of pardoning grace. Often, a humble Christian, though poor as to this world, has more true knowledge of the gospel, than those who have made the letter of Scripture the study of their lives, but who have studied it rather as the witness of men, than as the word of God. And even young children have gained such knowledge of Divine truth as to silence infidels. The reason is, they are taught of God; the design is, that no flesh should glory in his presence. That disti...

Verse 28. _AND BASE THINGS - AND THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED_] It is very likely that the apostle refers here to the _Gentiles_ and to the Gentile converts, who were considered base and despicable in the eyes of the Jews, who counted them no better than _dogs_, and who are repeatedly called _the things that are not_. By these very people, converted to Christianity, God has _brought to nought_ all the Jewish pretensions; and by means of the Gentiles themselves, he has annihilated the whole Jewish polity; so that even Jerusalem itself was soon after this, trodden under foot of the Gentiles....

AND BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD - Those things which by the world are esteemed ignoble. Literally, those which are not of noble, or illustrious birth τὰ ἀγειῆ ta ageiē. THINGS WHICH ARE DESPISED - Those which the world regards as objects of contempt; compare Mark 9:12; Luke 18:19; Acts 4:11. YEA - The introduction of this word by the translators does nothing to illustrate the sense, but rather enfeebles it. The language here is a striking instance of Paul’s manner of expressing himself with great strength. He desires to convey in the strongest terms, the fact, that God

EXPOSITION The oldest superscription was probably, "To the Corinthians, the first (Πρὸς Κορινθίους πρώτη)." This is found in א, A, B, C, D. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1 _The_ _greeting. _An opening salutation is found in all the Epistles of St. Paul, and in every Epistle of the New Testament except the Epistle to the Hebrews and the first Epistle of St. John, both of which were more in the nature of treatises than letters. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1 Paul. After the beginning of the first missionary journey (A.D. 45) he seems to have finally abandoned his Hebrew name of Saul. Called. The word "called" is absent from A, D, E, and other manuscripts, but may have been omitted as superfluous. It occurs in the greeting of...

AND BASE THINGS OF THE WORLD,.... Who are reckoned the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; men of mean birth, education, and business of life: AND THINGS THAT ARE DESPISED; and set at nought, as poor persons generally are; yet God HATH CHOSEN them; even the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of a kingdom: YEA, AND THINGS WHICH ARE NOT; some think the Gentiles are here intended, who by the Jews are called "things that are not": as in the apocryphal books: "O Lord, give not thy sceptre unto "them that be nothing", and let them not laugh at our fall; but turn their device upon themselves, and make him an example, that hath begun this against us.'' (Esther 14:11) "56 As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that "they are nothing", but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel....

I am going to speak about the testimony of the apostle Peter concerning his Lord, but we will first read together part of the writings of his «beloved brother Paul,» that we may see how these eminent servants of Christ agreed in their witness-bearing. 1-3. _Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ._ So this is a message to us also who «call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.» 4-9. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in...

1 CORINTHIANS 1:28 ta. mh. o;nta {B} The presence of kai, before ta. mh. o;nta (ac B C3 Db P Y 81 614 _Byz al_) seems to be an interpolation prompted by the preceding series of objects, each joined to the next by kai, (see Blass-Debrunner-Funk, § 490). In adding the word, however, scribes overlooked the force of the expression ta. mh. o;nta, which (as Zahn points out, _in loc_.) is not another item of the series, but is a comprehensive and climactic characterization of all the preceding items. The shorter reading is strongly supported by î46...

2. CONTRASTS. CHAPTER 1:10-4). CHAPTER 1:10-31. _ 1. Divisions rebuked. (1 Corinthians 1:10)._ 2. The Cross of Christ, the Power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17). The section which begins, after the introductory words, with the tenth verse and ends with the fourth chapter, shows a number of contrasts. There is the contrast of the fact that they were called into the one fellowship. The fact of being called into the fellowship of God's Son, as members of the one body is contrasted with their divisions. There is the contrast of the preaching of the cross, which is foolishness to them that perish, but the power of God to those who are saved. The wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world are likewise contrasted. Jews and Gentiles, what they require and seek ar